The co-existence of various great civilizations on the island, over the centuries, has left its marks on its buildings. Walking the streets of Rhodes is like browsing a book on the history and theory of architecture. The rectangular town planning of ancient Rhodes, designed by Hippodamus, is today known in its entirety, as its parts have been revealed both inside and around the Old Town. The period of the Knights Hospitallers (1309-1522) has left the most imposing monuments, public buildings and fortifications. The ottoman public monuments and shrines contrast with the neoclassical elements of public buildings from the 19th c. The period of the Italian rule in all the Dodecanese islands, from 1912 to 1945, imported fresh architectonic trends from Western Europe and among all this, an Aegean flavor permeating everything. As architect Dimitris Pikionis very eloquently put it: “Here and there, Byzantine art and folk tradition would combine with the art of the Conqueror. The gothic arrowhead, softened and merged with the Byzantine jewel and other eastern elements and from this merge, an unexpected fruit sprang out, which was named Rhodian art.”
Aktaion is a work of the first period of the Italian Architecture in the Dodecanese (1925-27), by architect Florestano di Fausto, integrating oriental elements, inspired by the island’s eastern traditions. The building was intended to house a club for the Italian officers and was called Circolo Italia.
The island was conquered by the Italians in 1912, who made major contributions as far as architecture and town planning is concerned, namely in the restoration of historical centers, the creation of new roads, as well as imposing public buildings and the founding of new towns and settlements.
The building of the Hydrobiological Station of Rhodos was built during the period 1934-36. In 1937, under the Italian rule, operated as the “Reale Istituto di Ricerce Biologiche di Rodi”,… up until 1945, when, following the union of the Dodecanese with Greece, it was renamed “Hellenic Hydrobiological Institute” and operated under the supervision of the Academy of Athens. Today, the Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes operates as a Museum and an Aquarium, as well as a research center, belonging to the National Center of Marine Research. The aim of the Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes, is the preservation and display of embalmed and living creatures of the Mediterranean Sea. In the aquarium the visitors (200.000 per year) can admire specimens of anthozoa, molluscs (gasteropods & cephalopods), and species of the crab family, echinoderms, as well as fish of the following families: Dasyatidae, Mullidae, Sparidea, Centrachantidae, Labridae, Scaridae, Siganidae, Mugilidae, Scopaenidae, Triglidae, Balistidae, Monacanthidae and of course, sea turtles. At the Museum, are also displayed exhibits such as a variety of sharks and other fish, sea turtles, toothed whales, (Odontoceti) and Mediterranean monk seals. Thanks to the research facilities of the Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes and the National Centre of Marine Research, the Station runs research programs, covering every aspect of oceanography in the area of the Dodecanese. It thus, functions as a model research unit in the Mediterranean.
The building was designed by architect Florestano di Fausto in 1926-27. It combines the tradition of the East and that of the Byzantium, with gothic and cinquecento (Renaissance) elements, alluding to the historical and geographical status of the island, as a crossroad between the East and West.
During their rule in the Dodecanese, the Italians ignored these buildings, along with their morphological and aesthetic characteristics, even though they were trying to integrate local… elements, at least in the first period. Gradually, the neoclassic architectonic presence is diminished – as opposed to other islands like Symi – in front of the splendor of the buildings, constructed by the Knights and the Italians. Some of them, however, are still used as academic institutions, since their inauguration, up until today.
The Knights’ avenue, within the medieval town, was the Castle’s central road. It is apparently a remnant of the old town planning by Hippodamus, the development of which, was… the medieval, fortified town. Many of the most important administrative buildings are concentrated here. The road, made of cobble, about 200m long and 6m wide, continues uphill to the Palace of the Grand Master.
The casino today is housed in one of the most impressive and famous buildings in Rhodes, the Hotel of Roses, built during Italian rule.… Its original name was “Grande Albergo delle Rose” (Grand Hotel of the Roses) and was a place of significant historical events, like the instauration of the state of Israel, which was signed here, in 1948. Built by Florestano de Fausto in 1925-27, its original form had an eclectic style, with both oriental and western elements, representing this “exotic” idea the architect and the Italians had of their “colonies”.
The Palace of the Grand Master is undoubtedly the medieval town’s main tourist attraction. It is located northwest, on the town’s loftiest point. Built by… the Knights Hospitallers of Jerusalem, in the place of a previous fortification of the 7th c., it was the residence of the Grand Master and the place where conferences of the knightly order were held. The sarcophagi of all the Grand Masters are preserved inside the court.
The Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent was originally built in 1523, ordered by Suleyman himself, as being the conqueror of Rhodes. It was reconstructed and obviously modified in 1808, integrating the elements of neoclassicism, something very popular in the Ottoman Empire, during the 19th c.
The complex was built during Italian rule, in order to provide a center of therapy and recreation for Italian vacationers around the existing, natural… thermal springs. The baths were inaugurated on July 1st, 1929, right after the completion of the road, leading from Rhodes to Kallithea. It was designed by architect Pietro Lombardi, who combined Byzantine and Muslim with Classical Greek elements, wisely integrated into the overall composition.
The story and the bright future of a unique boutique hotel complex … Villa de Vecchi of Rhodes, has the same name of… that of Lake Como in Italy. Two baroque mansions which are architectural jewels in the Mediterranean. The Rhodes villa and the adjacent buildings Elafos and Elafina, are at the stage of maintenance and restoration, with the prospect of their future shining bright.
Villa de Vecchi was built by the Italian authorities, in 1936, at the edge of a rock, on Mount Profitis Ilias, where the historic two – storey building with a total area of 757 square meters, stands arrogantly, showing a persistent resistance to the wear and tear of the recent decades. Villa de Vecchi was named after the Italian governor of the Dodecanese, Count Cesare Mario de Vecchi. The imposing villa was used as the summer retreat of the Italian king Vittorio Emanuele III and later as a resort for the Greek royal family. The construction of a luxurious building in the middle of the forest, with the elegance of the Italian architecture and a stunning view, aimed to offer relaxation and recreation, while at the same time, due to its location, it allowed a panoramic view of the island.
The villa is located at an altitude of about 800 meters, on the hill of Profitis Ilias and is 40 – 45 minutes from the city and the airport of Rhodes. It is a work of art, a historical monument which is regulated by the relevant archaeological service. Other smaller auxiliary buildings, coexist on the same plot, while the villa borders two magnificent historic chalets, the Elafos and Elafina, which were built also by the Italians, in order to be used for their officers and in the later years, operated as hotels.
Initially, in 1929 the hotel Elafos was constructed and in 1930, was added on the ground floor, a restaurant with a large terrace above it, a large dance floor and a tennis court. In 1932, a new independent wing was built next to the hotel, which was given the name Elafina and from there on, the complex is by the peculiar name Elafos & Elafina. It has since been used as a hotel.
The area in which Villa de Vecchi is located, reaches a total of 8,100 sq.m., with steep slopes and very dense vegetation. Accessibility in the area is facilitated by the existing road signs, as Profitis Elias is one of the most characteristic locations of the island and a tourist destination all year round .
Profitis Ilias is the third highest mountain of Rhodes, following Attaviros and Akramytis, reaching a height of 798 meters ( and a minimum of 100 meters ) and located 6 km from the village of Salakos, where you can admire stones – ruins of a castle, which goes right up to the village of the Knights. A wooded area, of rare natural beauty and a tourist destination all year round, with main vegetation cypresses and pines, where the well – known deer of Rhodes, DAMA DAMA, as well as the rare endemic birds survive. During the Italian occupation, extensive reforestation took place in the area, using the native species Pinus brutia and Cupressup. A divine landscape whose imposing position captures the visitors breath. The conversion of the villa complex, as well as Elafos Elafina into hotel units ( boutique hotel ), will be a new quality tourist product for Rhodes, which will attract high level visitors, offering unique experiences.
Rhodes is full of small and larger villages, each of which hide its own history. A few of them, of course, stand out for the reason of… their creation, the name, as well as the condition in which they stand nowadays. Among them, an Italian village, located in the central Rhodes. Although no one lives there anymore, it has an interesting story to tell even today. Apart from its story, the artificial pond of the village hosts a rare species of fish, the Ghizani, which you will find only in Rhodes. An endangered species living nowhere in the world, but in the small circular artificial pond of this ghost village. Definitely worth knowing the history of this “Italian”, yet Greek village of Rhodes. Its name? Campochiaro! Nowadays, known as Eleousa. Built about a century ago, at the foot of the mountain of Prophet Elias, the story of its creation is interesting in itself. The construction of the village took place in the framework of a migration settlement program in the Dodecanese. The purpose was to create rural settlements that would be inhabited mainly by Italian settlers, aiming not only the timber exploitation, but also the forest environment care of the area. Campochiaro, which actually means Bright Village, was created by Governor Mario Lago in 1935, during the Italian occupation of the island of Rhodes. The peculiarity in its architecture can be seen even today.
The settlement was modeled by the forest villages of the Italian Alps. Impressive buildings with bright colors ( hence the name ) were created between the trees, as in most Italian villages. Italian loggers moved and settled there, organizing their new lives, having had left behind northern Italy and the valley of Fieme, and continuing their lives in Rhodes. Over the years the village was abandoned and the buildings were left to their fate. Abandonment and decay are visible in the majority of the buildings, which were once full of life. This is why the locals speak of the Italian ghost village.
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